basketball never sleeps

Chapter 201 Big chess pieces in the next game

Author: I feel restless while bathing

Chapter 201 Big chess pieces in the next game

On February 7th, the All-Star voting results were released.

Mo Wen once again broke the record he set last year.

3.3 million.

However, this year, there were a lot less doubts about him. Even many unconvinced American media just felt that Mo Wen had too many votes and did not stand up to question Mo Wen's identity as the top vote-getter.

Last season's FMVP gave Mo Wen his first hard-earned honor.

Phenomenal data - averaging 23 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game, ranking first in both assists and steals. If nothing unexpected happens, it will not be too difficult for Mo Wen to be the assist leader and steal leader this season.

.

Smooth and beautiful playing style, needless to say, if you add muscular sticks like Lao Zhantou and Guigui in 2023 with 20 years of golf experience, they can also hit picturesque irons.

There is also the Heat's near-invincible record this season, losing only three games in the middle of the season. This feat has only been accomplished by the Bulls, who had previously won 72 games. Moreover, even in losing games, Mo Wen is also the most stable performer on the Heat team.

If last year was the year when Mowen's fans in China skyrocketed, then this year the region with the largest increase in Mowen's fans has become the United States.

Mo Wen is not as gorgeous as Kobe and Iverson, who can easily hit 30+ and 40+ with a slight burst. Nor is he as wild as Nash, who leads the team to test the quality of the court floor. He is like a machine that never stops.

The stopped oil extraction machines continuously provide fuel for the burning of the hot fire day and night.

Facts have proved that attracting fans does not necessarily require an exaggerated performance. Singing and dancing can also make people crazy.

Alliance (Stern) & Nike: Ah, yes, yes!

The second-highest vote-getter was Yao, with 2.8 million votes. He was also a level ahead of other NBA players.

O'Fatty's data has dropped a lot this year. No one regards him as the leader of the Heat anymore. His votes are still one Howard + Bosh behind Yao.

It's a pity for Wade. He is 30,000 votes behind Iverson. Many Chinese fans also voted for him as the "third leader", but there is a scoring champion who averages 33 points per game in front of him. American fans

Iverson is still more supportive of ribbon dancing.

The All-Star substitutes were voted on by the coaches of each team two days later, and the All-Star lineup was also determined——

Eastern starting lineup: Mo Wen, Iverson, James, Carter, O'Neal;

Substitutes: Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Ben, Bosh, Arenas, Wade;

West starting lineup: Nash, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Duncan, Yao Ming;

Substitutes: Marion, Nowitzki, Garnett, Parker, James Brand, Ray Allen;

Milicic's statistics are good, but the team's record has dropped too far compared to last season, and the coaches have not taken him seriously.

"Captain" Brand played his most representative season this year, averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds per game. The most important thing is that he also led the Clippers into the top six in the Western Conference.

With a guard partnership, they led the Grizzlies to seventh place in the Western Conference. Regardless of record, qualifications or data, Brand and his sister-in-law are more qualified than Milicic.

Needless to say, Dazhi, Stern helped him "restore" his vote data to a bit normal. China's enthusiasm for the NBA is still on the rise, and he doesn't want to throw cold water on Dazhi's super high votes.

It was interrupted by cold treatment.

There is basically nothing unconvincing about this year's selection in the Western Conference. "Melo" has good statistics, but after taking the crown of [58], his performance without explosive performance cannot cleanse his reputation at all.

In the Eastern Conference, there are more unlucky ones. Two of the top ten scorers were not selected - Pierce and Reed.

When they were leading the team alone, their results were mediocre, and the coaches didn't think they were anything special. But judging from their results when leading the team alone, Melo actually beat Pierce.

If Arenas hadn't averaged 30 points per game, he would not be able to move from the third place in the league's scoring list, and there is a high possibility that he would not be able to make it.

Sanders, who had previously been confirmed to be the head coach of the Eastern Conference team, mobilized his connections and inserted all four of the Pistons' starters into All-Stars.

The main reason is that the Pistons are trying their best this year. After switching to offensive basketball, the Pistons did not lose their defense and their record improved. The coaches of other teams were also happy to see the Heat being overpowered in the All-Stars.

Both Pierce and Reid felt that they had been treated unfairly, but it was not them who shouted loudest, but Artest in New York.

"It's not because some piece of shit is harming the team, I should also be in the All-Stars!"

"Defense! Defense! Defense! I don't know why when everyone is discussing offense, there are still people discussing these old-fashioned things. I have done all the defense I should do, but I haven't seen him take out any offense.

In the end, who did he guard against? He guarded against ourselves!"

"To be able to perform like this under his hands, I feel that I am worthy of an All-Star!"

In just half a season, Artest had enough of Larry Brown's "right basketball."

He thought that he, the "son of Brooklyn," came back to New York to be the city's hero and savior.

But who would have thought that Larry Brown only valued his ability on the defensive end and was not interested in his talents on the offensive end at all. He was more blue-collar under Larry Brown than under Carlisle.

Marbury had already had a heated argument with Larry Brown in time and space, and this time it was Artest's turn to take the lead.

One thing to say, Artest is not an unreasonable person, but to be reasonable, you must first be reasonable. The principle on the court is to win. Larry Brown did not lead them to win, so Larry Brown is in New York

Many of the unreasonable things I did became unreasonable.

Understand the applause!

After Larry Brown succeeded in playing blue-collar basketball with the Pistons, he brought his successful experience to New York.

His idea is very good. This group of people with gold-collar and white-collar salaries does not need to be worthy of their own salaries. It is good that they can play a blue-collar role.

But he forgot one truth in the workplace: after being a leader for a long time, he will no longer be able to do the following work.

Whether it is execution or tactical quality, the Knicks in front of them cannot be compared with the Pistons who were trained by Carlisle.

Larry Brown didn't apply mechanically, but he tried 30 starting sets and couldn't find one that suited his liking.

On the contrary, the team lost any star power due to him. Artest's head-to-head performance was fine, and his data only shrunk slightly.

Marbury, the original core player, saw his data shrink directly from last year's All-Star level to normal starting level, and this year he didn't even get an All-Star nomination.

What’s heartbreaking is that this year’s Heat and Pistons occupy the top two spots in the Eastern Conference. From players to coaches, the combined salary of everyone on these two teams is not as high as that of the Knicks.

The Heat have 3 All-Stars and the Pistons have 4 All-Stars.

If Artest doesn't join, Stern will have to worry. Think about it, Dolan formed the most expensive lineup, paid the most taxes, and suffered the most severe beatings. Looking back, the only connection between the entire team and the All-Stars is the ball.

The team has a bunch of former All-Star players, and New York fans don't even have local stars to vote for.

So far, the Heat and Pistons combined have lost less than the Knicks have lost in a month. The Knicks are now in the same echelon as the Raptors, both on their way to the No. 1 pick.

For the Knicks, losing is not a terrible thing.

The scary thing is that they still have to watch Larry Brown stubbornly lead the team to lose.

It's not that Dolan and Thomas were demoted by Larry Brown. The main reason is that Larry Brown signed a huge contract with them with an annual salary of tens of millions - 30 million in three years.

This is already less than the original time and space. Because Isiah Thomas had the idea of ​​​​recruiting Mo Wen, Larry Brown's contract period was shortened. Historically, Larry Brown's guaranteed annual salary of tens of millions of dollars was fully signed.

5 years…

Oh, by the way, there is another ghost story. Even though the Knicks are playing so badly, their first-round picks for next season were still Eddy Curry (300 pounds) and Sweetney (308 pounds) at the beginning of the season.

) This pair of "Thousand Jin Brothers" were given to the Bulls in the transaction~

And this draft pick is still not guaranteed!

…

"Tsk tsk tsk, what do you think you are? That old guy led you to win the championship after all. He was so ruthless, 30 points. In an ordinary regular season, with a 30-point difference, you guys

It’s because you don’t have any sympathy for him. He’s already in such a difficult situation and you’ve done it so cruelly. No matter how hard we do it to him... No, how can he raise his head in New York in the future?”

Holding the phone, Mo Wen said angrily, heartbroken.

"I can't help it. The schedule is just like this. You can't be envious of it."

On the other end of the phone, Billups said proudly.

In last night's game between the Pistons and the Knicks, the Pistons easily defeated the Knicks by 30 points at 121:91. Billups made an even greater effort and rarely unlocked the offensive seal.

Scored 30 points under Lee's defense.

"You've only been 'enjoying' it for one year and you're going to enjoy the beach in Miami. Do you know how the brothers came here last year? If Coach Sanders had replaced him in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, do you think you could get through it so easily? Go

Just ride on the horse!"

After seeing the offensive power of the Pistons this year, even Ben, who respects Larry Brown the most and hates Sanders the most, will not think that their defeat last year was purely a matter of the strength of their players.

Billups, who had always had conflicts with Larry Brown, even took over Mo Wen's stick and fired at Larry Brown no matter what.

Larry Brown initially fought back, but as the Knicks' record collapsed like his prostate, he also played dumb.

"If it were Sanders, the Heat would still win the championship. Don't think too much. Just lie to your brothers. Don't lie to yourself." Mo Wen joked with a smile.

"Tch, you kid, don't think that you are invincible after forming a super team. Don't forget how you got your first ring!" Billups tapped the screen of his phone as if he was tapping Mo Wen.

Same as the brain.

"Emm, two FMVPs, five All-Stars, tell me, how did I get my first ring?" Mo Wen said with a change of concept.

Looking back, the Pistons won the championship in 2004 with the All-Star team.

The Pistons' players in the year they won the championship were basically mature players. There was only one new recruit in the core lineup, Mo Wen, who quickly "grew" into FMVP in the second year.

Billups choked on his words.

Although four of the Pistons' inclusion in the All-Stars this year is partly due to Sanders' connections, they have to ask themselves that they are definitely worthy of this honor.

Therefore, although Mo Wen was making sophistry, there seemed to be nothing wrong with his logic.

After all, there is no such thing as a grassroots fairy tale. People who are truly poor will never be known to others about their poverty.

"Don't talk about us anymore. I checked the schedule. You are going to New York the day after tomorrow. You were so enthusiastic about beating us. Are you going to make big news again this time?"

"Huh? Don't spread rumors. It's like how much I hold a grudge. Am I the one who holds a grudge?" Mo Wen curled his lips.

"Isn't it?"

"If you say that, we can talk about the two punches you owe me..."

Dududu——

Listening to the electronic sound on the phone, Mo Wen raised his eyebrows.

He has long since ignored Larry Brown. After last year's Eastern Conference Finals, Larry Brown never had a chance to make a comeback in front of Mo Wen.

Of course, Mo Wen didn't mind continuing to step on him.

After all, that's Madison Garden.

By the way, it’s time to remind Shaq to practice free throws... Wait, no, it’s time to remind Shaq to take a rest!

Under another night sky.

In a nightclub in New York, Artest opened his military backpack in high spirits and showed Marbury one by one his preparations for the upcoming war.

Dangdang——

"Did you see this? These are the steel-toed shoes that my uncle wore when he was logging. Two tons of wood was thrown at them and the shoes were embedded in the ground without deformation."

Bang bang——

"This is a professional cross-country motorcycle knee pad. Someone has verified that after flying at 120 miles, the skull was flattened, but the knee was still intact."

Thumb thump——

"And this one is even more exciting. I found a precious prop from Hollywood through my connections, a 1:1 restored medieval plate armor. It would take three shots to break it into pieces even if it was worn by a sand eagle. It has no other shortcomings except its weight."

Next to him, Marbury looked at Artest with a numb face, showing off his equipment like a child showing off his toys.

Just tell me the truth, are you going to attack the White House or blow up the Polygon?

Isn’t it just Mo Wen?

He didn't believe it——

With his height, could Mo Wen hit him in the face while he was kneeling?

Why do you have to fight and kill, just for your salary of more than 6 million, just to win or lose a game?

Those who clashed with Mo Wen last season have been either traded or bought out and forced to lay off, and he is the only one left in the team.

He had forgotten all the grudges in the past while drinking heavily. Now when being interviewed by the media, he could say without blushing that his relationship with Mo Wen was very good.

The alliance is just a business, so why should we take it too seriously?

Looking at Artai who was obsessed with fighting with Mo Wenxu, he sighed.

Signal the bartender on the other side to continue serving food.

…

In the last game before the All-Star weekend, the Heat flew to New York.

There were not many reporters accompanying him, because few people would care about a game whose outcome was already determined.

Even if O'Brien announced before the last game that his leg and toe injury had recurred and that he needed to rest until the All-Star Game, no one thought that the Knicks, whose offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency were also at the bottom, could cause much trouble to the Heat.

None of the New York media, who have always been ambitious, took the initiative to express their optimism that the Knicks could win this game.

The same goes for the media run by boss Dolan.

The strength gap between the two sides may not be a matter of letting one or two starters, but a matter of letting go of the starters.

Of course, there are also people who have the idea of ​​winning the game.

In addition to Artest, there is Larry Brown who has recently been feuding with Artest.

Larry Brown, who has successfully monetized half his life's reputation, shouldn't have any extravagant expectations for his reputation.

But Larry Brown always feels that he can still save something.

The Heat rested O'Neal very confidently, which is great news for him.

Although the Knicks also have a "little shark" with a full tonnage, this fat fish is more than a little inferior to O'Pang, the genuine fat shark.

The dominance of a super center is not only reflected in his size and athletic talent.

Technology cannot be ignored either.

For example, Yue Banhu, who later typically relied on talent to make a living, also had delicate low-post finishing skills.

In the eyes of Larry Brown, the most difficult thing is to arrange tactics to defend O'Fat.

The rest, although not simple, does not require a long time to solve the problem, and the only result is that there is no solution.

In order to inspire the players to work harder, he also specifically discussed arranging Houston's retirement ceremony on the day of the game.

He intends to burn off the last bit of Houston's reputation with the Knicks and inspire another group of players.

For this game, it can be said that Larry gave everything he had, and it was almost treated as a tiebreaker in the finals, although he had never played a tiebreaker in this time and space.

But what everyone didn't expect was that after Houston gave a touching and regretful retirement speech, his last jersey was "inexplicably" sent to Mo Wen.

Larry Brown, who understood what happened, almost fainted on the spot.

He was tricked by Isiah Thomas.

Obviously, Isiah Thomas also wants to learn to use the tricks of the previous Pacers to have something to do with Mo Wen.

He was still thinking about boosting morale, but now all the emotions and momentum he had brewed came true for Mo Wen.

Larry Brown really can’t understand. The Pacers are doing this because they have salary space, but what about the Knicks? They laid off half of their people without even seeing the top of the salary cap. What kind of fun is this?

Thomas: Don't ask, asking is just a big chess piece in the next game (the important thing is to participate)!

Artest was extremely unhappy when he saw Mo Wen take away Houston's jersey.

For the second time, the "inheritance" that should have belonged to him was once again taken away by Mo Wen.

There is one more reason to win the game!

I am still adapting to my new home. After watching the game for a while, I still have no inspiration and feel uncomfortable. I feel stuck from last night until now...

(End of chapter)